Probably the most critical step to getting out of debt is to quit borrowing. That means you NEED to find alternatives to loans.

That said, the idea of turning to debt for help is so pervasive that it can be hard to even think of other options. Borrowing money feels like the default solution, especially when you’re stressed out and worried.

But there ARE other choices out there, and many of them are a whole lot easier than you think. Here are 5 alternatives to loans: Read more

Have you ever wondered how to get a mortgage without a credit score? If you’re in decent financial shape, the short answer is to use manual underwriting.

Not many people are familiar with the process of qualifying for a mortgage using manual underwriting, so I’m happy to share Jessica’s story below.

(She got a manually underwritten mortgage when she bought her home earlier this year, and she’ll be telling you all about how that worked shortly.)

But first, let’s get an important term out of the way.

Manual underwriting means someone individually figures out the level of risk involved with giving you a mortgage.

Instead of software automatically checking your credit and using an algorithm to decide whether or not you’re a good risk, a person does so. (Using information you provide to show you’re likely to repay the loan.)